Neoseiulus yanineki, Zannou & Zundel & Hanna & Moraes, 2005

Zannou, Ignace Dossa, Zundel, Christine, Hanna, Rachid & Moraes, Gilberto Jose, 2005, Two new species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Cameroon, Central Africa, Zootaxa 1093 (1), pp. 55-59 : 56-57

Neoseiulus yanineki sp. nov.

Material Examined

Holotype female and 2 paratype females from Melinis minutiflora Beauv. (Poaceae) , Mankon village, 05°58'26" N x 10°05'46" E, Bamenda, Cameroon, 27 February 2004, altitude 1251 m, coll. C. Zundel, deposited at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Insect Museum, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Female ( Figs. 1A–1E ) (3 specimens measured)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield smooth, except for some reticulation on the lateral margins of the proscutum; 418 (416–419) long and 238 (234–240) wide at widest level of the proscutum, approximately level with setae s4. Setae j1 31 (30–32), j3 48, j4 38 (35–42), j5 31 (30–32), j6 37 (37–38), J2 42, J5 12 (11–13), z2 47 (45–48), z4 63 (62–64), z5 38 (37–38), Z1 61 (61–62), Z4 66 (66–67), Z5 78 (77–80), s4 76 (75–77), S2 66 (64–67), S4 45, S5 48, r3 62 (61–64), R1 37. Seta Z 4 and Z5 slightly serrate; other setae smooth .

Peritreme. Extending to a level between the insertions of j1 and j3.

Venter. All shields clearly discernible, sternal and genital shields smooth. Sternal shield with posterior margin concave, three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Setae St4 inserted on distinct metasternal shields. Distances between setae St1–St3, 79 (78–80), St2–St2 84 (83–85), St5–St5 82 (80–83). Ventri–anal shield trapezoidal, reticulated, 149 (147–150) long, 130 (128–131) wide at level of Zv2 and 100 (99–102) wide at level of anus, with three pairs of pre­anal setae (Jv1, Jv2, Zv2) and a pair of pores posterior and slightly mesad of Jv2. Soft cuticle surrounding shield with two pairs of metapodal shields and four pairs of ventral opisthosomal setae (Jv4, Jv5, Zv1, Zv3).

Chelicera. Movable digit 37 (36–38) long, with 2 teeth; fixed digit 38 long, with five teeth and a pilus dentilis (three teeth anterior and two teeth posterior to pilus dentilis).

Spermatheca. Calyx trumpet­shaped, 28 (26–29) long; flared region ca. one third of total length; atrium poorly defined.

Legs. With a single, sharp­tipped macroseta, 50 (48–53) long, on tarsus of leg IV. Chaetotaxy of genu II 2­2/1,2/0­1 and genu III 1­2/1,2/0­1.

Male Unknown.

Etymology

The epithet yanineki refers to the name of S. J. Yaninek, an acarologist who spent 15 years working on biodiversity and biological control of mites in Africa, where he collected several new species.

Notes

Females of this new species are similar to those of N. alustoni ( Livshitz & Kuznetsov 1972) , but the latter has an imbricate dorsal shield, longer macroseta on tarsus IV, and fewer teeth on the fixed cheliceral digit (only three teeth). Neoseiulus umbraticus ( Chant 1956) is also similar to the new species, but it also has an imbricate dorsal shield and cupshaped calyx.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neoseiulus yanineki sp. nov., female. A, dorsal shield; B, ventral surface; C, chelicera; D, spermatheca; E, leg IV.